In 2012, Inletkeeper developed a statewide Stream Temperature Action Plan identifying the highest priority actions for the next decade that would lead to greater protection of Alaska’s wild salmon habitat as thermal change continues. We put together a progress report to capture all the impressive work that has been achieved collectively since...
Back in 2012, Inletkeeper began to strategize about next steps for our member-supported salmon science program as we completed a water temperature study in 48 salmon streams across the Cook Inlet watershed. Our data collection efforts were addressing our curiosity about how much thermal diversity existed in Cook Inlet streams. (Turns out...
The Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has released the Public Review Draft of the Susitna Basin Recreation Rivers Management Plan for public review and comment. Following the public review period, DNR intends to adopt the plan with any changes that may result from the input received. Once adopted, this plan will serve as the basis for...
BRIDGING THE "DATA TRANSFER" GAP In the field of conservation, it is not uncommon for researchers to end their grant reports and journal articles with an inspiring statement about the value of the study for land managers in their efforts to protect biodiversity, sustainable populations, and healthy habitats into the future. The statement is...
We are finally experiencing the last ripples of Pebble mine. After decades of powerful advocacy, extensive salmon research, and strong tribal voices, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) vetoed the proposed copper mine threatening the headwaters of Bristol Bay in January 2023. We are still celebrating this long-anticipated moment and all...
It took less than 13 years for oil from Prudhoe Bay, traveling down the new Trans-Alaska Pipeline, to smother the coast and the life it sustained in Prince William Sound and beyond. From 1977 to 1989, the corporate and political promises seemed to be paying off for Alaskans. All the concerns about the potential risks of spills seemed like...
A Hilcorp contractor – SAExploration Seismic Services - is seeking a Miscellaneous Land Use Permit from the Alaska Department of Natural Resources to conduct a seismic survey this spring. To conduct the survey, SAE will detonate explosive shocks at 55-feet intervals along a 5.4 mile transect encompassing land, tidal and waters around and...
As we wait with anticipation for the EPA’s 404(c) Final Determination on Pebble mine later this month, Inletkeeper continues to ask questions about the Donlin Gold mine. The Donlin Gold mine would be a massive open-pit complex next to the Kuskokwim River in southwest Alaska and it presents sweeping risks to wild salmon habitat stretching from the...
Nowhere is the disconnect between energy policy and climate impacts more evident than in Cook Inlet. In the same waters covered in last month’s federal Oil & Gas Lease Sale 258, federal fisheries managers closed the highly-lucrative Pacific cod fishery in 2019-2020, and they cited – for the first time ever – climate change as the reason. Like...
This has been a frustrating year! Yet another Pebble mine comment period. Oil & Gas Lease Sale 258 in Lower Cook Inlet is happening tomorrow despite being canceled in May. The Cook Inlet beluga whale population is not improving. Our carbon emissions continue to go up, not down as is desperately needed. The best part of this past year...
